A lot has happened...

So it has been quite some time since I have updated my blog. I really should make this a more regular thing.. how come when I was living in Africa I had no problem keeping a blog? I guess we just get wrapped up in all the things we "need to do" that we don't seem to have time for blogs. At least, that's my excuse. Either way, I really want to get in a habit of doing it.

Well this year has been quite crazy for me. Let's see... in December 2009 I took my last college class. In January I technically graduated from college. Then January-May I went to live in Rwanda and work for NAR (it was my first trip out of the US too). In May I participated in my college graduation ceremony, had my birthday, applied for jobs for 3 months, attended a family reunion and visited my dad in Utah and Las Vegas... then finally got a job working for Bayer, then got married in August... went on a honeymoon to Jamaica... we moved to Alexandria from Fairfax in late August... that's it.

 That is a lot of life changes in one year. It has been a busy time, and I'm still looking to be more permanently settled in with a more permanent job and house situation. We are really stuck in Northern VA until Andrew gets his Associates degree in May... plus we have a lease in Alexandria til September 1st, 2011. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love how close we live to DC and how easy my commute is into the city. It's not that I would really prefer to live anywhere else in Northern VA. I love Alexandria. It is quiet and peaceful. However, I am kind of over the whole city living. I have been in Northern VA for 5 years now.. and I think it's time for a major change. For some reason, I think it might be the simpleness and southern hospitality, I am really attracted to North Carolina. My family would also be pretty close by... so would Andrew's. I think that we are going to seriously consider moving down there after we figure out our future. He still needs to finish up school and we both need to find good paying jobs down there. I am confident though that we would be better off surviving as a young married couple down there... prices in Northern VA are just too costly. We could own a nice house down there for $150,000. Up here we couldn't even get a townhouse for that price. Our rent is so high up here, and commuting costs are a pain... Don't get me wrong.. there are a lot of things I do like about this area... we have access to stores and free activities. There are tons of parks and outdoor activities. Because so much money is invested into this area, the government really takes care of the libraries, parks, etc. We are lucky to have such a flourishing environment in this area... while a lot of people are struggling, our area is doing fantastic. Either way, we want a more simple life, with a big yard, and less traffic.

My life is going good... but there are always things I am unhappy about. I really want to experience pure happiness. It is not something that I often feel. Especially as of late. I think with the economy and the difficulty of finding a permanent job in this environment.. it is easy to feel down and out. I know that a lot of times lately I have felt discouraged and under-appreciated because I got rejected for jobs. I finally got one, but I still believe that I have not yet reached my full potential in a beginning career. I know that everyone doesn't get what they want at first, but people kept telling me that that was not going to happen to me... but it did.. and sometimes that is hard to accept. I know it's not just only me.. I have met SO MANY PEOPLE in DC in my same position.. and it makes me realize that no matter what experience you've had, it doesn't really matter all that much as an entry-level professional.

Another thing.. I have some truly flaky friends. I really don't feel close to too many girls anymore... and some of the ones that are true friends, I don't see all the time. It has been so long since I've just had that best girl friend... I've gotten so used to telling Andrew and my sister (Aubrey) everything that I forgot how it feels to know there is always a girl there for you that you call all the time when you're venting or just need to tell them something exciting. I lost a lot of respect for people around the time that I got married. There were so many people that I considered my close friends that I expected to be participating in wedding events with me (bachlorette party, bridal shower, etc) and didn't even bother to call me to let me know that they weren't going to show up... I have a best friend Taima that is from Rwanda that went out of her way to have a wedding veil HAND MADE for me in Rwanda and found someone to send it with back to the US. Tell me that is not going out of her way to send me something for my wedding and make an effort because she loves me and considers me a good friend. Yet I had people who lived in the same city as me who didn't make an effort to call. I really can't believe it sometimes how self-centered people can be. I am so respectful and I treat my friends like gold.. I really do. I'm the first one to call someone on their birthday, or send a card if something is going wrong. I just don't get why people aren't all like that... I think it's just hard for me to understand sometimes because I am so driven by emotions and by feelings for my friends. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I mean honestly that's how I treat people... but a lot of the times I am disappointed and unimpressed with my friends. I think I am still searching for good people in my life and I have yet to find but a few.